Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-05-05
Surging Mobs Demanding the Lives
Of the Negroes Turner and
Patterson.
Jennie Bowman, Their Victim, at the
Point of Death-G Guarding the
Jail.
The Mayors Proclamation Troops Called
Out-Another Meeting Oalled-Great
Excitement.

more determined effort would be made to
lynch the negroes at night The rumors
that Miss jamie Bowman had died Of her
injuries in circulation tended TO revive the
excitement over the outrage, and toward
evening crowds began to collect on the
streets in the vicinity of the jail, until by
ten O'Clock several thousand men and boys
were in the neighborhood- Later another
crowd assembled, probably 500 strong, and
marched down Jefferson street, steadily an
silently, until near the corner of Sixth and
Jefferson streets, where they were met by
one hundred police, who rushed out of a
hall where they were biCouacked. The
crowd moved on in a determined manner
that seemed likely to force the police aside,
but the latter stood firm, and for time
there was a pellmell, hand-to-hand fight,
which resulted in several broken heads and
arrests. The leaders were soon taken and
rushed OF to a station house, and the crowd
gave way and took to their heels and IN a
moment were in full flight. The police,
after pursuing them short distance. re-
turned and formed a line across the street,
where they remained on guard.
The answer OF the Governor TO call for
aid from the militia was received at II ia
o'clock yesterday morning, and several
companies were ordered to guard the jail
Despite this, however, at 1928 p. N. the
agreed signal of eleven taps by the fire
department bells in case of an attack upon
the Jail was rung, as great crowds OF peO-
pie were pressing toward the Jail, around
which the militia were stationed, and the
police and q mob were fighting.
By 12=45 p. m. about 3, 0Oo people were as
sembled on the Jail square, and Jefferson
street was the scene of great confusion
people rushing toward the Jail from all
points, but no serious collision had occurred
d. and it was not'eXpected that any would at
present, as the crowd was forming out OF
curiOSifV LATER. hOVaUar il ran0rteQ
that the alarm was the usual call to notify
the members of the legion when they were
expected to report for duty at the armory.
The people misunderstood the alarm. The
crowd then dispersed and no more trouble
was feared. Late in the afternoon the
mayor issued the following proclamation:
MAYORS OFFICE, LOUISVILLE, KY, April 20.
To the people of Louisville 1t is my duty
as mayor to enjoin upon the people the neces
sity for preserving order and maintaining the
majesty of the law. A most diabolical crime
has been committed in city, but the
law must .infict the punishment. A riot
is EAare dangerous to good government
than any individual criminal. Lynch law
subverts every principle of law and at
tacks our very civilization. I, therefore, in
the discharge of my duty, request every citizen
to remain ut home tonight and to avoid all
gatherings and caution parents not to permit
their children TO go in the Streets as their
presence increases the number and adds to the
excitement 1 must and will discharge my
duty to uphold the law and 10 preserve good
order, and command all riOtouS aSSemblages
to dispense. p. II. REED, Mayor.
While the mayor was .inditing the above
the first movement looking to an organiza-
ton of the exasperated people, who openly
and On all sides advocated .lynching, was
being made. In response to a notice which
had been distributed among the thousands
who rushed TO the Jail at the alarm at mid
day, given to order the members of the
militia to report for duty, about 500 men
gathered in front of LeiderkranZ hall, on
Market street. The janltor refused them
admission to the hall and the police were
endeaw oriug to disperse them, when DR..
Berry well known physician of the city.
mounted barrel on the sidewalk and ad-
dressed them. He said that since the
brutal crime of Patterson and Turner none
of the women and children feel any secu-
rity, 1nd that while he generally was OPP
posed to mob. law, there was nothing to be
done in this case but to lynch the negro
fsends- The Law had again and again failed
to punish murdererS. They had been sent
to the penitentiary when they ought to
have been hung The lawyers defended
blood stained. criminals whom they knew to
be guilty. If this crime was not atoned
for a chance would be missed to set ter
rible example to the hundreds of idle,
worthless and thieving negroes who in
Tested the alleys and slums of the city.
The doctor was cheered at frequent inter
walls. Whiiehe was speaking Major Kinney,
a leading criminal lawyer, passed through
the crowd. a number of the men stopped
him and then, surrounding him, demanded
in an excited manner why he defended
men whom he knew to be criminals. The
major commenced to explain and expostu-
late, declaring that he had never acted as
attorney for a man whom he believed to be
guilty. He WAS never more earnest or elo-
quent in his life, and breathed a heavy sigh
of relief when he slipped out of that throng.
The doctor resumed his remarks and the
meeting adjourned to a hall near by, where
the names of about one hundred citizens
whose sentiments were known, and who, it
was believed, wonld join any organized effort
to lynch the negroes, were selected.
On Market street a crowd of about 100
men were mar ching up and down. each with
about foot of white cotton rope tied to
the arm. In q prominent place on the
court house is the Illuminated design:
sGWanted-500 men to loin this mob" Up
to this writing good order has prevailed.
The mob appears to have no leader and APP
pears to be only watching out of curiosity
for something to turn up. The police and
militia are determined to defend the Jail,
come what may, and if the attempt is made
there will be bloodshed sure.
The girl, Jennie Bowman, is at the poet
of death, suffering intensely. The phys
clans say there is no hope whatever for ha.
recovery
The soldiers late last night were ordered
from the 2rmory to the jail with Calling
gun. A crowd of fully 10000 people was
.surging to and fro on Jefferson street.
Many womea were seen mingling with the
crowd. Ali appeared to be attracted by
curiosity only, and the best OF order pre-
vailed
At $3.50 a. m the crowd about the court
house square dWindled down to 800 or 400
people. and they we're dispensing gradually.
Three hundred and fifty soldiers with q
Calling gun and I50 armed policemen
stood guard SS the jail The
meeting agreed upon to take